Tallassee’s Jalyn Daniels claims week 4 AHSAA Spotlight

AHSAA Football Spotlight

Tallassee’s Jalyn Daniels Strikes Lightning-Fast with TD Runs of 99 and 89 yards in 49-21 Win

Montgomery, AL – Tallassee High School junior Jalyn Daniels had touchdown runs of 99 and 89 yards in the span of just over three minutes in the third quarter of the Tigers’ Class 5A, Region 4 battle with Elmore County.

Those two big plays stretched a precarious lead from 21-14 to 35-14 and Tallassee rolled to its first victory of the season winning 49-21. Daniels also burst into the AHSAA Football Spotlight for Week 4 with his outstanding performance.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound junior finished with 349 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 20 carries. He dashed his way into the AHSAA Record Book with his 99-yard run with 6:51 left in the third quarter. He almost equaled that effort with 3:21 left in the period when he scored on his 89-yard run. His other TD runs covered 5, 27 and 37 yards.

The 99-yard run from scrimmage, the maximum distance possible officially in a high school football game, made him the 17th player in AHSAA history since 1972 to accomplish that feat, according to the AHSAA Record Book, and the first since Geneva’s Kahari McReynolds ran 99 yards for a TD versus Samson and Emmanuel Henderson of Geneva County ran the same distance for a TD versus the same school in 2019. McReynolds also had a 99-yard interception return in the same game, a 40-28 win over Samson.

Tallassee and Elmore County combined for 899 total yards, 524 by Tallassee and 375 by Elmore County. Coach Mike Battles’ Tigers averaged 13.4 yards on just 39 total plays. Payton Stephenson was 14-of-23 passing for 170 yards and rushed 24 times for 129 yards for the Wildcats. 

Daniels edged out three other record-book performances to earn this week’s AHSAA Spotlight.

Sastuma’s defense, led by 6-foot, 185-pound senior linebacker Billy Scott, limited LeFlore to minus-3 yards total offense, the fifth best defensive effort in AHSAA history, according to the AHSAA Record Book. He had 3.5 sacks among his eight tackles as the Gators beat LeFlore 21-2 in a game played Saturday night. Satsuma’s defense forced two turnovers.

The minus-3 total yards allowed was the best defensive effort reported since Corner limited Vincent to minus-47 total yards in a 63-6 win in 2015. Uniontown set the state mark (minus-67 yards) in a win over Greensboro in 1977. Charles Henderson limited Bullock County to minus-17 yards in a 57-0 win in 2013, and W.S. Neal downed Cottage Hill Christian 48-0 in 2012 allowing minus-7 total yards.

Cherokee County’s Whit Johnson returned an interception 100 yards in the fourth quarter last week to lead the Warriors past Class 4A, Region 4 rival White Plains 48-12. He also snagged a 24-yard TD pass on offense. His 100-yard pick was the longest reported since J.U. Blacksher’s Jaiveyon Tucker sped 102 yards with an interception for a TD in a 53-0 win over McIntosh last year. The state record (108 yards) has been done twice, first by Demopolis DB Tommy Wilson in a 49-7 win over American Christian in 2012 and in again in 2018 by Notasulga’s Jimmy Pitts in a 52-0 victory over Autaugaville.

Westminster Christian quarterback Brandon Musch completed 24-of-50 passes for 387 yards and seven touchdowns and ran for 121 yards and a TD on 12 carries in a 59-54 loss to DAR. He finished with 508 total yards. He became the 27th quarterback to throw for seven touchdowns in a single game and the first since Malik Inabinette of Montevallo and Aaron Dove of Falkville had seven or more TDs in a game in 2018. Both had eight TD passes in wins over Greensboro and Coosa Christian, respectively.

The 508 total yards by Musch was the most this season by any player in the AHSAA. The 500-yard milestone was reach four times last year: by Seth Brown of St. John Paul II Catholic (614) versus West Morgan; by Logan West of Florala (568) versus Houston Academy; by Charlie Cater of Locust Fork (509) versus Cleveland; and by Maddux Herring of Ariton (501) versus Geneva County.

Other top performances reported from last week’s AHSAA action included:

PASSING

JOSH LUNDY, HOOVER: Completed 18-of-27 passes for 349 yards and five touchdowns — with three scoring tosses and 13 completions overall gaining 20-plus yards — in the Bucs’ 42-7 Class 7A, Region 3victory over previously unbeaten Oak Mountain.

HESS HORNE, EUFAULA: Was 17-of-27 for 281 passing yards and five touchdowns in a 33-7 Tigers win over Class 6A, Region 2 foe Park Crossing. His TD passes covered 58, 22, 4, 24 and 39 yards. He also completed a two-point conversion pass in the win.

ACE ASHLEY, SAND ROCK: Completed 19-of-32 pass attempts for 281 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown to Olin Pruitt, in a 20-7 loss at Southeastern.

ZACH PYRON, PINSON VALLEY: Was 21-of-26 passing for 280 yards and four touchdowns and had a rushing touchdown as the Indians beat Jackson-Olin 34-18 in Class 6A, Region 6.

DAMION KEMMERLIN, GENEVA: Totaled 277 yards passing on an 11-of-14 performance and had TD tosses of 76, 70 and 4 yards and also had 37 yards rushing for 314 total yards as the Panthers beat Ashford 41-8 in Class 4A, Region 2.

WILL NOLES, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Was 5-for-8 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns in the Warriors’ 50-14 victory over Locust Fork.

MICHAEL RICH, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Was 15-of-21 in passing for 221 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 28-27 Class 5A, Region 7 loss to Arab. He also rushed for two scores.

TUCKER KILCREASE, BRANTLEY: Completed 11-of-14 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns as the unbeaten Bulldogs (4-0) downed Pleasant Home 54-0 Saturday in Class 1A, Region 1. Wesley Person had one TD reception and Dequan Pittman had the other TD. He also had two rushing touchdowns.

MARTVIOUS GLANTON, ABBEVILLE: Accounted for 244 yards rushing and passing and had one TD in the Yellow Jackets’ 42-30 Class 2A, Region 2 loss to Geneva County. He passed for 144 yards and a TD and rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries.

CONNER HARRELL, THOMPSON: The junior QB completed 17-of-23 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns – mostly coming in the first half – as the Warriors downed Hewitt-Trussville 35-21 in a game televised nationally on ESPN U. Thompson lead 35-7 at intermission.

RYLEY KIRK, SPRING GARDEN: Completed 9-of-13 pass attempts for 140 yards and a 23-yard touchdown and rushed for 30 yards and a pair of scores to lead the unbeaten Panthers (4-0) to a 34-14 win over Cleveland in Class 2A, Region 6.

RUSHING

DREW PICKETT, HOLTVILLE: Ran for 291 yard and two touchdowns (8 and 11 yards) as Holtville beat Tallassee 28-14.

ADDISON HUDSON, KINSTON: Rushed for 256 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-26 Class 1A, Region 1 loss to Georgiana. Hudson had TD runs went for 3, 5, 5 and 17 yards.

CHANCE McCLENDON, SPARKMAN: Gained 245 yards and two touchdowns (55 and 86 yards) on 22 carries in a 21-14 Class 7A, Region 4 win over previously undefeated Austin.

TROY BRUCE, CENTER POINT: Totaled 227 yards rushing and three touchdowns (28, 60 and 6 yards) on 20 carries in the Eagles’ 56-14 Class 5A, Region 6 win over Moody.

TYCHIUS CAVES, JACKSON: Had 18 rush attempts for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the Aggies’ 28-14 victory over Selma.

JOSEPH McKAY, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Had 13 rush attempts for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-28 Class 7A, Region 2 victory over Enterprise. The Red Devils piled up 382 rushing yards and 467 total with teammate Trey Miles adding 103 yards two TDs on six carries.

MATHEW TURNAGE, ARAB: Rushed for 176 yards on 33 carries and scored four touchdowns as Arab nipped Southside-Gadsden 28-27 in Class 6A, Region 7. Turnage scored on first-half runs of 1, 10 and 23 yards, then in the third quarter hauled in a perfectly executed screen pass from sophomore quarterback Aidan Cox on fourth-and-13 from the 28 to score what proved to be the winning TD.

JEREMY LAWSON, VINCENT: Piled up 202 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries as the Jackets beat Fayetteville 41-34.

JAYLEN NOBLES, SLOCOMB: Accounted for 241 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns in a 48-0 win over Houston Academy in Class 3A, Region 2. He rushed for 194 yards and three TDs (35. 59, 7) and caught three passes for 47 yards, including TD receptions of 30 and 7 yards.

C.J. MILLER, GADSDEN CITY: Rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans’ 31-17 win over Spain Park. 

TRENT DAVIS, ETOWAH: Had 162 total yards and two TDs in the Blue Devils’ 24-0 win over Ashville. He rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and caught three passes for 62 yards and a score.

QUEZ JACKSON, THOMASVILLE: Rushed for 163 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries in the Tigers’ 49-18 win over Class Leroy. He also had one reception for 32 yards.

CAMERON LINDSEY, DAR: Rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns and was 10-of-17 7 passing for 102 yards and three touchdowns in the Patriots’ 59-54 Class 4, Region 7 over Westminster Christian.

BRANDON ROBINSON, CARROLL: Led the Eagles with 155 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 24 carries and added two kick returns for 50 yards and two pass receptions for 14 yards in the Class 5A, Region 2 46-20 win over Headland.

MALACHI HOLT-BENNETT, FAIRFIELD: Rushed for 147 yards on 20 carries and accounted for both touchdowns in a 13-7 win over John Carroll Catholic in Class 5A, Region 5. He raced 60 yards for one of his scores and passed for the other. He also had five tackles and an interception on defense.

D.J. LEE, GAYLESVILLE: Rushed for 141 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns and completed three passes for 82 yards and a 28-yard TD as Gaylesville fell to Valley Head 34-28. He also had nine tackles on defense.

LUKE WELSH, SPRING GARDEN: Gained 140 yards rushing on 18 carries and scored on a 22-yard touchdown run in a 34-14 victory over Cleveland.

KADIN BENNEFIELD, BOAZ: Had 110 yards rushing and first-half touchdowns of 14, 14 and 7 yards in a 38-0 win over Sardis.

FOX TINKER, PISGAH: Scored on a 10-yard run in the second overtime, then threw the winning 2-point pass in the Eagles’ 42-40 win over Whitesburg Christian.

RECEIVING

RYAN SCOTT, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Caught three passes for 186 yards and two TDs in a 50-14 Class 2A, Region 6 win over Locust Fork.

RODARIUS THOMAS, EUFAULA: The Tigers’ wide receiver caught seven passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-7 Class 6A, Region 2 win over Park Crossing. His first two TDs covered 58 and 22 yards and gave Eufaula a 15-0 halftime lead His final TD covered 39 yards.

OLIN PRUITT, SAND ROCK: Pulled down eight pass receptions for 152 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown grab, in the Wildcats’ Class 2A 20-7 loss at Southeastern.

TIMOTHY McREYNOLDS, GENEVA: Nabbed four passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns and added 85 yards on 11 carries in the Panthers’ 41-8 win over Ashford.

JOSH McCRAY, ENTERPRISE: Caught five passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns covering 64 and 29 yards and rushed 16 times for 79 yards and two more scores in the Wildcats’ 45-28 Class 7A, Region 2 loss to Central-Phenix City. McCray also had 146 yards on seven kick returns and threw one pass for 31 yards to finish with 395 all-purpose yards.

RYAN PEPPINS, THOMPSON: The junior had six catches for TDs covering 55 and 66 yards in a 35-21 win over Class 7A, Region 3 rival Hewitt-Trussville.

CODY ROBERTS, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Snagged four receptions for 134 yards in a 28-27 loss to Arab.

PEYTON ELLIS, OPP: Snagged three pass receptions for 130 yards with two touchdowns covering 66 and 42 yards in the Bobcats’ 54-6 Class 3A, Region 2 win over Daleville.

JAREL WILLIAMS, SARALAND: Caught four passes for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Spartans downed Class 6A, Region 1 foe Blount 35-13 on Saturday.

COOPER AUSTIN, SPRING GARDEN: Led the Panthers with five catches for 115 yards and a 23-yard touchdown in the Panthers’ 34-14 win over Cleveland.

QUINDARRIUS MAYES, HUEYTOWN: Caught five passes for 111 yards, including the 22-yard game-winning reception, as the Gophers beat Class 6A, Region 4 rival Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 28-24.

MARQUARIUS WHITE, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Hauled in eight passes for 101 yards and three scores, including two touchdown receptions in the final quarter, to lead the Cougars to a 38-33 come-from-behind victory over Minor in Class 6A, Region 6.

COOPER DAVIDSON, GUNTERSVILLE: Scored touchdowns on all three of his receptions and returned a punt for a score in a 50-0 Class 5A, Region 7 win over Douglas.

DEFENSE

MARIO BERRY McADORY: Was responsible for two safeties from his defensive position on defense, made nine tackles with two tackles-for-losses and three sacks and added two quarterback pressures in the Jackets’ 25-6 Class 6A, Region 4 win over Bessemer Academy.

BRADEN TURNER, McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC: Scored a pair of touchdowns on defense to spark the Yellow Jackets’ 21-0 Class 6A, Region 1 win over Citronelle. He returned an interception for a TD in the second quarter and fell on a fumble caused by teammate Robert Greenwood for a score in the fourth period.

JAYVEN ANDERSON, ABBEVILLE: Made 18 tackles in the Yellow Jackets’ 42-30 loss to Geneva County.

CAMERON DUNKLIN, LEEDS: Led the Green Wave defense with 14 tackles, including two sacks and three other stops for losses, as Leeds beat Hayden 19-3.

TREVOR WILLETT, WEST END: Had 11 tackles, including five for a loss, and two sacks in the Patriots’ 54-20 win over Gaston. Teammate Isaiah Roberson also had 11 tackles and Hunter Tucker had 10.

JAX VAN ZANDT, THOMPSON: Led the Cass 7A Warriors’ defensive effort with 11 tackles as Thompson beat Hewitt-Trussville 35-21.

KEVIN MONTAGUE, MADISON COUNTY: Recorded eight tackles, six sacks and a blocked field goal in a 29-14 Class 4A, Region 7 win over Randolph.

EMMANUEL HENDERSON, GENEVA COUNTY: Forced a fumble and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 30-14 lead before the half on way to a 42-30 win over Abbeville in a battle of unbeaten in Class 2A, Region 2. He scored on touchdown runs of 23 and 4 yards on offense. Geneva County teammate J’Quan Broxson also eight tackles, including four for losses and two for quarterback sacks.

ETHAN CLANTON, SAND ROCK: Led the Wildcats’ defense with 12 stops in a 20-7 loss at Southeastern.

CHRYSTYILE CALDWELL, ELBA: Totaled 10 tackles, including two for losses, and added 77 yards rushing on two carries with a 66-yard TD run as the Tigers beat Cottonwood 56-6.

MICAIH MYERS, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Had two interceptions, including one returned 80 yards for a touchdown, in the Warriors’ 50-14 victory over Locust Fork.

HAYDEN O’DELL, ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL: Had two interceptions as the Saints beat Class 5A, Region 1 foe Faith Academy 20-6.

JORDAN AUSTIN, COLBERT COUNTY: Intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in a 24-16 Colbert County Class 2A, Region 8 win over Hatton.

SETH LEE, GAYLESVILLE: Recovered a pair fumbles in the Trojans’ 34-28 loss to Valley Head.

SPECIAL TEAMS

TREY STODDARD, MUSCLE SHOALS: Kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Trojans to a 31-29 win over Athens.

JALEN HOLMES, MADISON ACADEMY: Returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown and an interception 55 yards for a score in a 36-32 win over North Jackson.

KADARIUS ZACKERY, LANETT: Scooted 91 yards for a touchdown on a punt return, had two interceptions on defense and scored on a 32-yard run as the Panthers beat LaFayette 26-0 in Class 2A, Region 4.

KENUWYN DIXION, BRANTLEY: Returned a kickoff 65 yards for a TD in a 54-0 Class 1A win over Pleasant Home.